Elma “Pem” Farnsworth

Elma Farnsworth (1908-2006) was interviewed for seven hours in Salt Lake City, UT.  Farnsworth discussed at length her husband Philo T. Farnsworth's first television invention - the Image Dissector Tube - and the excitement of seeing its first moving image.  She spoke about how Philo toiled to create the first electronic television, while RCA and Vladimir Zworykin worked on a similar invention, both trying to finish before the other.  Farnsworth talked about the heated competition and the ensuing patent fights between Philo and General David Sarnoff, then President of RCA.  The interview was conducted by Jeff Kisseloff on June 25, 1996.